Modifying the major economic growth attraction program to include incentivizing the building of a professional sports stadium by a national football league franchise in the state

This bill modifies the major economic growth attraction (MEGA) program to include incentivizing the building of a professional sports stadium by a national football league franchise in the state. Currently, the MEGA program provides economic development incentives designed to attract capital investments from businesses who invest at least $1 billion in the state and who are primarily engaged in advanced manufacturing, biosciences, or research and development. The bill expands the MEGA program to provide economic development incentives to a national football league franchise building a professional sports stadium in the state. The business incentives include sales and use tax refunds, qualifying investment tax credits, withholding tax credits, and other state tax incentives if authorized by the economic development authority. The bill defines “sports stadium” to mean a facility, stadium, arena, or other structure where national football league games are held. Currently, tax incentives under the MEGA program may not be awarded for more than two eligible businesses or after January 1, 2027, whichever comes first.